Suction tube dispensing means for beverage containers



Oct. 31, 1967 D. M. WEiTZNER 3,349,987

SUCTION TUBE DISPENSING MEANS FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINERS I Filed May 6, 1966 arozhecz MA/etznar 64-01. B

United States Patent 3,349,987 SUCTION TUBE DISPENSING MEANS FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINERS Dorothea M. Weitzner, 8 E. 62nd St., New York, N.Y. 10021 Filed May 6, 1966, Ser. No. 548,299

. 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A beverage container having a cylinderical body with a partition in the center thereof forming two compartments inside the body of the container. Opposed sides of the body of the container formed as tubes extending outwardly of the top of the body, the tubes terminating short of the bottom of the container and extending outwardly and curved laterally and joined at their outer ends by a detachable tab. The tab when detached forming two tubes for drinking purposes. The top of the body of the container is formed with weakened circular lines defining plugs adapted to be pushed in forming air holes.

This invention concerns suction tubes for drawing liquids from bottles, cans and other containers of beverages.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a beverage container with an associated, attached suction tube.

Another object is to provide a beverage container with a suction tube which is an integral part of the container.

A further object is to provide a beverage container with a suction tube which is attached to the container, but which is detachable and extensible.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially in section of a first container assembly embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a reduced perspective view partially in section of the container assembly of FIG. 1, shown in open condition.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second container assembly in closed condition.

FIG. 4 is a reduced perspective view of the second container assembly in partially separated condition, with suction tubes shown extended.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the second container assembly in separated condition.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken through part of the extended suction tubes of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken through another part of the extended suction tubes of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a reduced perspective view of the separated containers taken from the second assembly of FIGS. 3-8.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a first container assembly A comprising a container having a generally cylindrical body 40 with closed oval or circular bottom 42 and top 44. Opposite sides of the cylindrical body are extended upwardly to define two integral tubes 45, 46 which are sealed at their upper ends to a detachable tab 48. The connected tubes define an inverted U- shaped loop which can serve as a carrying handle. The two tubes extend inwardly of the container body 40 and terminate at their lower open ends just short of the closed bottom 42. Inside the container body is an integral vertical diametral partition 49 dividing the body 40 into two compartments 50a, 50b sealed 01f from each other. Two different beverages 51, 52 can be providedin the respective compartments. In the top wall 44 of the container are two tabs or plugs 53, 54 outlined by weakenedor scored lines 55, 56. These plugs can be pushed inwardly to define air holes for admitting air into the respective compartments.

When the tubes are separated as shown in FIG. 2, and one air hole is opened by pushing in plug 54 for example, the liquid contents 52 of selected compartment 50b can be drawn by suction out through tube 46. Similarly the contents of compartment 50a can be drawn out by suction after plug 53 is pushed in.

The container assembly A of FIGS. 1 and 2 make it possible to provide two different beverages in the same container body with integral suction tubes or straws. The container assembly can be made of heat sealed thermoplastic or thermoset plastic material, or it can be made of plastic coated cardboard or other suitable material.

FIGS. 3-9 show a second container assembly B. The container assembly has two closed frusto-conical containers 60, 62 joined together at their narrow ends by laterally connected helically coiled suction tubes 64a, 64b. The tubes are joined by separable web 64'. The tubes 64a, 64b are covered by closed tubular caps 69 and 70 at opposite ends. Cap 70 has a tab 71 which can be grasped for pulling this cap off the outer end of the tubes. Beads or projections 73 on the tubes engaged in recesses 72 in the cap 70 to help hold it frictionally on the tubes. The caps can readily be pulled off the tubes after the tubes are detached and unwound from the con tainers. Then the individual tubes 64a,'64b can be sep arated and inserted in the openings 75a, 75b for drawing out the liquid contents of the containers. Openings 75a, 75b are formed when plugs 76, 77 secured to cap 69 are pulled out of tops 65. The containers 60, 62 may contain different beverages if desired as indicated by indicia 78, 79 on the sides of the containers.

In all container assemblies, a suction tube or a plurality of suction tubes are attached to a part of a container. The tube or tubes are detachable entirely or partially.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage container assembly comprising a hollow container body for containing a beverage and suction tube means attached at least in part to the container body for drawing the beverage out of the container body, said body being generally cylindrical in form, a partition in said body dividing the same into two compartments, said suction tube means comprising two tubes integrally formed with said container body at opposite sides thereof, said tubes having lower ends extending into the respective compartments and upper ends detachably joined together over said body, whereby beverage in the respective compartments can be drawn out of the compartments through the respective tubes, said container body having weakened circular lines in the top thereof above the compartments defining plugs adapted to be manually pushed in forming openings in the respective compartments to admit air.

2. A container assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the joinder of the upper ends includes a detachable tab between and closing the outer ends of the tubes, the outer 4 ends of the tubes before detachment of the tab serving 2,689,076 9/1954 Jenkins 229' as a handle for transporting the container. 2,844,267 7/ 195-8 Petriccione.

3,092,275 6/1963 Brunton et a1 215-1 References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,075,977 4/1954 France.

, 566 676 12/ 1932 Germany.

Re. 25,448 9/1963 Cohen et a1 2297 1,213,961 1/1917 Shepard. 978,901 1/1965 Great Britain. 1,680,341 8/1928 Rosenthal. 2,432,132 12/1947 Allen X 10 JOSEPH R- E R, Prlmary Exammeh 2,581,516 1/1952 Cohen 229--7 D. F. NORTON, Examiner.- 

1. A BEVERAGE CONTAINER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A HOLLOW CONTAINER BODY FOR CONTAINING A BEVERAGE AND SUCTION TUBE MEANS ATTACHED AT LEAST IN PART TO THE CONTAINER BODY FOR DRAWING THE BEVERAGE OUT OF THE CONTAINER BODY, SAID BODY BEING GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL IN FORM, A PARTITION IN SAID BODY DIVIDING THE SAME INTO TWO COMPARTMENTS, SAID SUCTION TUBE MEANS COMPRISING TWO TUBES INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH SAID CONTAINER BODY AT OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, SAID TUBES HAVING LOWER ENDS EXTENDING INTO THE RESPECTIVE COMPARTMENTS AND UPPER ENDS DETACHABLY JOINED TOGETHER OVER SAID BODY, WHEREBY BEVERAGE IN THE RESPECTIVE COMPARTMENTS CAN BE DRAWN OUT OF THE COMPARTMENTS THROUGH THE RESPECTIVE TUBES, SAID CONTAINER BODY HAVING WEAKENED CIRCULAR LINES IN THE TOP THEREOF ABOVE THE COMPARTMENTS DEFINING PLUGS ADAPTED TO BE MANUALLY PUSHED IN FORMING OPENINGS IN THE RESPECTIVE COMPARTMENTS TO ADMIT AIR. 